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Australia promises to strike at terrorists in other countries

A reassuring sight in Jakarta these days is security guards with metal 
detectors checking cars parked outside office blocks. True, in one such 
operation no cars were checked after 9.30 in the morning. Presumably, 
terrorists are thought to be early risers. Nevertheless, by Indonesian 
standards, the overall improvement in security since the Bali bombings of 
October 12th has been impressive. Even after a series of deadly terrorist 
attacks in Jakarta in 2000, ordinary people were offered little protection. 
Only the rich and powerful were made to feel secure. The Bali bombs, and the 
prospect of losing millions of tourist dollars, have made a difference. If the 
bombers wanted to inflict further damage on Indonesia's weak economy, they 
succeeded. 

A Bali-type bombing seems depressingly easy to repeat. Clive Williams, head of 
terrorism studies at the Australian National University, believes the Bali 
attack was essentially a home-grown affair, comparable with attacks on western 
tourists in Egypt. The bombers may or may not have had money from al-Qaeda. 
Most Muslim militant groups around the world have probably had support from al-
Qaeda at some time, he says. But, for all its bloodiness—it claimed some 190 
lives—the Bali attack probably cost little money. 

The hopeful news is that the Indonesian police force has been more successful 
than many people expected. The country's rare decision to allow foreign 
policemen to help with the investigation has given it access to sophisticated 
forensic tools. An Indonesian called Mukhlas, said by police to have 
masterminded the Bali bombing, was detained on December 3rd. Two others are 
held in connection with the bombing, Imam Samudra and his accomplice, Amrozi. 
Mr Samudra has fought in Afghanistan. 

In the search for other possible bombers there is talk of re-opening 
investigations into a number of bombings of churches in Indonesia on Christmas 
eve, 2000. Those in custody in connection with the church bombings may be 
questioned again, along with others who were never charged. There are also 
suggestions of a connection with Malaysia; a group suspected of terrorism, 
Jemaah Islamiah, operates in that country. 

The Australian prime minister, John Howard, upset Indonesians and others this 
week with a threat to strike against militants outside Australia if they are 
believed to be planning an attack on his country. Australian diplomats in the 
region tried to soften the impact of Mr Howard's remarks by saying, 
implausibly, that he wasn't referring to the region. But Indonesia, Malaysia, 
Thailand and the Philippines all took offence. The Malaysian prime minister, 
Mahathir Mohamad, said that this was not the way to tackle terrorism. Nor is it 
a guaranteed way to lure tourists to what not very long ago were thought of as 
the peaceful tropics. People in Australia, on the other hand, may feel that it 
is better than waiting to be hit first.
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The Age (Melbourne)
Outside elements linked to Dili riots
December 6 2002
Dili

Armed United Nations troops and police guarded key buildings in the East Timor 
capital yesterday as its leaders began an investigation into who was behind the 
worst outbreak of violence since independence in May.

A high-level government team will try to find out who was responsible for the 
rioting, arson and looting on Wednesday.

Officials insisted it was not just a student protest that got out of control. 

At least two people were killed, several cars and building were torched, stores 
were looted and the Dili mosque was attacked. 

Hundreds of UN troops enforced an overnight curfew and the government closed 
high schools and the university for two days. 

President Xanana Gusmao, in a radio broadcast, called on students to stay at 
home and let the police find the culprits. 

Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri said the impact on East Timor, Asia's poorest 
country, would be bad because many foreign investors now wanted to leave. 

Mr Alkatiri's own home and those of two of his brothers were torched. 

The trouble started after 500 students gathered for a second day on Wednesday 
at police headquarters in Dili to demand the release of a student arrested for 
alleged gang violence. 

The students began throwing stones at East Timorese and UN police guards. 
Witnesses said officers opened fire, killing two people.

East Timor foreign affairs official Caroline O'Brien said what was a peaceful 
student protest was disrupted after it was joined by another group of people 
who started throwing stones. 

"The students said that the second group also had hand guns and (the students) 
were scared so they left, and that second group were the ones who caused the 
damage apparently," Ms O'Brien said. 

The riot followed a series of protests in recent months involving everything 
from opposition to fuel price rises to the make-up of the country's military 
and police. It also comes as the new police force struggles with more crime and 
civil unrest in some rural areas. 

Public mini-buses stayed off the streets yesterday and only a few taxis 
operated. Most shops, businesses and restaurants were closed.

UN and East Timorese police, backed by UN troops, guarded government buildings 
and installations and embassies. Some police also guarded commercial centres 
and banks. 

In New York, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan called for calm after the riots.

In Madrid, Foreign Minister Jose Ramos Horta called for a halt in the phased 
reduction of UN forces. He blamed the riots on elements outside the student 
movement. 

Internal Affairs Minister Rogerio Lobato on Wednesday said the violence was an 
orchestrated manoeuvre to topple the elected government. He blamed people 
linked to RDTL, a hardline nationalist group which has been tied to previous 
unrest.

UN human rights commissioner Sergio Vieira de Mello, the world body's former 
chief in East Timor, said he was not surprised by the violence. 
-- AFP, Reuters, AP
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The Straits Times
Updated Dec 5, 9.28 pm (Singapore time)
E. Timor police nab 80 after riots 

Dili -- Police arrested 80 people following riots in East Timor's capital, as 
the government vowed on Thursday to punish those responsible for violence that 
left at least two dead and dozens of buildings -- including the prime 
minister's residence -- in ruins. 

The unrest in Dili was the worst in East Timor since it became the world's 
newest nation in May, and reflected rising discontent with the government. Most 
of East Timor's 800,000 people are desperately poor and have seen little 
benefit from independence. 

Government leaders said that an independent commission had been formed to 
investigate the shootings and riots, which flared on Wednesday but largely 
subsided by Thursday.

'The investigation will be done in a very short time and all people considered 
guilty will face justice even if it's the police or members of the military,' 
Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri said.

All the 80 people taken into custody were civilians, but it remained unclear 
when and where they were arrested. 

Dili's streets were mostly empty on Thursday and armed UN peacekeepers joined 
Timorese police in guarding Parliament and other government buildings. Schools 
and businesses were closed, although some shop owners spent the day cleaning up 
after rioters rampaged through the capital, burning and looting supermarkets, 
homes, hotels and a mosque. 

Many feared there would be more violence and Dili's airport was crowded with 
relatives of UN staffers and others trying to flee. 

The UN said that it had not ordered an evacuation but was providing two planes 
for those wanting to leave. 
-- AP
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ABC Radio Australia News 
06/12/2002 01:09:46
Alkatiri says Dili riots were politically motivated 

East Timor's Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri has launched an inquiry into riots 
which left two people dead.

Anne Barker reports, United Nations troops have stepped up their presence in 
the capital, Dili:

"The East Timorese leader has formed a five member team to establish who was 
behind the widespread looting and destruction. Hundreds of people - many of 
them students - ransacked the city, burning shops and buildings, including the 
Prime Minister's own home. Mr Alkatiri claims the riots were politically 
motivated by forces agitating to oust him from power. The city has been 
relatively calm today but many businesses remain closed. Australian and other 
foreign nationals continue to leave East Timor. Australia's Prime Minister John 
Howard has offered all possible assistance to East Timor to help restore 
stability."
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ABC Radio Australia News 
05/12/2002 20:25:56
Australian workers leave East Timor 

The United Nations has begun evacuating Australian families and workers from 
East Timor in the wake of yesterday's violent riots in the capital, Dili.

UN security forces have bolstered their presence in Dili since hundreds of 
youths stormed through the city yesterday ransacking shops, burning buildings 
and looting. 

The violence has now subsided but the city is still tense, as Australian 
workers and other foreign nationals continue to leave the country.

Our reporter Anne Barker says a UN charter plane is due shortly in Darwin 
carrying families of UN workers and Australian aid agency staff. 

At least two people are confirmed dead and several injured, including two 
Australian Federal Police officers who were pelted with rocks. 

Australia's Prime Minister John Howard has offered East Timor assistance.